No mystery to Harper's unpopularity

At the risk of angering the acolytes of conventional wisdom, it's time someone pointed out the obvious: Maybe Stephen Harper isn't so damn smart after all.

Captivated.....Remarkably, it's not just the Conservative caucus who seem captivated. Media and political observers describe Harper with a blend of terror and admiration previously reserved for cinematic bogeyman Keyser Soze. Even members of the opposition parties sermonize on Harper's shrewd, strategic brilliance.

There is plenty of evidence that Harper's political strategy is crude, over-calculated and fundamentally schizophrenic. One thing more: It's not working.

• First, he isn't remotely likeable. That, alone, isn't necessarily fatal. Pierre Trudeau, for example, was loathed by whole chunks of the electorate.
• Second, he champions policies that most Canadians oppose. He's extended our stay in Kandahar, walked away from Kyoto......torn up 10 provincial agreements to expand child-care spaces.....
• Finally, his political strategy is at war with itself. ....media are shunned as a hindrance, an unwelcome filter of the government's message....He exploits (sic) people's prejudices, this can be a particularly unsophisticated brand of politics. It preys on fear and appeals to the least, rather than the best, in human nature. It also assumes that voters are dumb – that simple, selfish gimmicks will attract support. Much of what you see from this government is built around these principles.

LINK: The Toronto Star